About This Fish

Species Name

Cassava

Image

About the Species

Cassava fish (Pseudotolithus senegalensis) is a perch like ray finned fish. It is also known as Cassava croaker, Ladyfish, large mouthed weakfish, Law croaker, Whiting, Small mouthed weakfish and Stripped croaker. It belongs to the Family Sciaenidae under Order Perciformes of Class Actinopterygii. It is an economically important demersal fish in West African water. It is found in coastal waters over muddy, sandy or rocky bottoms from the shoreline to 70 meters depth. Smaller individuals are found in shallow waters, but it rarely enters estuaries and moves to mid water when bottom temperature drops below 18° C. Body is moderately elongated and compressed with large and oblique mouth. Body is covered with weakly ctenoid scales but some cycloid scales are present on snout and sub orbital region. It is silvery grey and distinct dark oblique lines are present along scale rows on sides. It has two dorsal fins, of which, first dorsal has 10 spines while second has 1 spine with 28-33 soft rays. Anal fin has 2 spines with 7 soft rays. Spinous portion of dorsal fin has black tip while pelvic and anal fins are dusky to yellowish. Caudal fin is asymmetrically pointed with dark color. Inside of operculum is jet black. It feeds on fish, shrimps and crabs. It spawns during the period between November and March when water temperature ranges from 22 to 25°C. It can reach up to 114 cm in length and 12.0 kg in weight.